Plastic master with detachable baton

ABSTRACT

A master carrier is configured for slidable securement to a transverse rod and includes a drapery supporting portion and an exposed flange provided with first and second holes connected by a narrow slot, the second hole facing forwardly and being smaller than the first hole. An elongate flexible baton carries a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and an enlarged retainer adjacent the other end thereof. The retainer portion is sized to pass freely through the first hole, the portion of the baton intermediate the retainer portion and hand engageable portion is sized to pass through the slot into the second hole and the hand engageable portion is manually pulled to abut the retainer portion with the back of the flange of the master carrier at the second hole, the retainer portion being sized to pass through the second hole only in response to a substantial pull axially of the second hole. Thus, the master carrier and a drapery panel supported thereby are movable along the traverse rod by manual pulling of the hand engageable portion of the baton generally in a direction parallel to the traverse rod, while a substantial pull on the baton away from the traverse rod removes the baton from the master carrier to avoid damage thereto. The baton is preferably formed by placing an elongated flexible element so that it extends through, between and beyond first and second spaced mold cavities, the first cavity being arranged for molding the retainer portion on the baton element and the second cavity being arranged for molding the hand engageable portion on the baton element. The mold cavities are closed and filled with a hardenable plastic material. Upon hardening of such material the mold cavities are opened. The baton element is then severed between the close spaced resulting molded retainer portion and hand engageable portion and the process is repeated either in time or through the use of multiple mold cavities to form a series of batons each having a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and a retainer portion adjacent the other end.

United States Patent [191 Ford [ 1 PLASTIC MASTER WITH DETACHABLE BATON [75] Inventor: James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich. [73] Assignee: Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich. [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 182,788

[52] U.S. Cl. 160/126, 160/341 [51] Int. Cl. A47h 1/00, A47h 5/02 [58] Field of Search 160/126, 123-125, 160/330, 340, 341; l6/8787.8

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 403,535 12/1933 Great Britain 160/340 1,042,504 9/1966 Great Britain 160/341 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado Assistant ExaminerPhilip C. Kannan Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [5 7 I ABSTRACT A master carrier is configured for slidable securement to a transverse rod and includes a drapery supporting portion and an exposed flange provided with first and second holes connected by a narrow slot, the second hole facing forwardly and being smaller than the first hole. An elongate flexible baton carries a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and an enlarged retainer adjacent the other end thereof. The retainer portion is [451 July 3,1973

' sized to pass freely through the first hole, the portion of the baton intermediate the retainer portion and hand engageable portion is sized to pass through the slot into the second hole and the hand engageable portion is manually pulled to abut the retainer portion with the back of the flange of the master carrier at the second hole, the retainer portion being sized to pass through the second hole only in response to a substantial pull axially of the second hole. Thus, the master carrier and a drapery panel supported thereby are movable along the traverse rod by manual pulling of the hand engageable portion of the baton generally in a direction parallel to the traverse rod, while a substantial pull on the baton away' from the traverse rod removes the baton from the master carrier to avoid damage thereto. The baton is preferably formed by placing an elongated flexible element so that it extends through, between and beyond first and second spaced mold cavities, the first cavity being arranged for molding the retainer portion on the baton element and the second cavity being arranged for molding the hand engageable portion on the baton element. The mold cavities are closed and filled with a hardenable plastic material. Upon hardening of such material the mold cavities are opened. The baton element is then severed between the close spaced resulting molded retainer portion and hand engageable portion andthe process is repeated either in time or through the use of multiple mold cavities to form a series of batons each having a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and a retainer portion adjacent the other end.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL3 ms 3.743.002

SHEET 1 0F 2 mmvrok. J4MJ 4. FORD PATENIEDJUL3 ma 3.743.002

I N V EN TOR. M44461? 4. F020 MMM i%w PLASTIC MASTER WITH DETACHABLE BATON FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a traverse rod construction incorporating a movable master carrier and a baton for moving same and more particularly relates to such a master carrier and baton which are removably interengaged and to a method for constructing the baton.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention was developed in response to a need in transient housing, such as college dormitories and the like for traverse drapery supports and hand actuating means therefor which would be low in cost and durable under adverse conditions of use.

Although traverse rod constructions incorporating master carriers hand drawn by a hand engageable baton have been used in such situations and are in general less complex and lower in initial cost than traverse rods incorporating master carriers remotely actuated, for example, by cords extending lengthwise through the traverse rod, the former have not proved completely satisfactory in use. More particularly, baton operated master carriers having hand engageable batons are intended to be actuated by a pull on the baton substantially in the plane of the drapery supported by the traverse rod and substantially in the length direction of the traverse rod. A relatively gentle pull so directed will normally open or close the drapery. However, in such environments it has been found that the baton is frequently pulled with substantial force in a direction away from the plane of the draperies resulting in breakage of the master carrier or baton. Thus, the cost of the drapery installation and maintenance is increased, due not only to the cost of replacement parts but also due to the labor required in replacing same. Further, the capability of the draperies for opening and closing may be lost in the interval between breakage and repair.

Accordingly, the objects of this invention include the provision of:

A hand drawn drapery apparatus incorporating a master carrier for slideably supporting drapes on a traverse rod and a hand engageable baton engageable with the master carrier for carrying out such movement of the draperies.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the baton is releasably connected to the master carrier and in which a substantial pull on the baton in a direction away from the plane of the draperies will not damage the components of the apparatus but will merely effect a harmless separation of the baton from the master carrier.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the baton connects to the master carrier at a portion of the latter which projects outwardly into the room and beyond the plane of the draperies and is visible to the drapery operator so as to acquaint the drapery operator at a glance with the proper operation of the baton to effect traversing movement of the draperies and thereby tend to minimize pulling of the baton in an incorrect direction with respect to the master carrier even by drapery operators not acquainted with the proper operation of baton operated drapes.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, in which a baton when separated from its master carrier is readily replaceable thereon even by persons unacquainted with normal baton operated master carrier constructions and merely upon inspection of the baton and master carrier and further wherein the portion of the master carrier to which the baton is to be attached projects beyond the plane of the draperies and into the room to assist access to the point of attachment by the drapery operator.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the master carrier is particularly amenable to low cost construction and may be made as a single piece from commonly available plastic materials.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the baton is readily manufacturable at low cost and may be made from commonly available elongated strand material with a retainer element releasably engageable with the master carrier and a hand engageable element molded in place thereon.

An apparatus, as aforesaid, including a baton constructable in multiple utilizing close spaced mold cavities for forming the retainer element and hand engageable element in close spaced relation along a continuous elongated strand and by severing the strand between such close space molded-on retainer element and hand engageable element for providing opposite ends of two different batons.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a drapery traverse apparatus incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and partially broken front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken sectional view substantially as taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view substantially as taken on the line IV-lV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view substantially as taken on the line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view substantially as taken on the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken sectional view substantially as taken on the line VIIVII of FIG. 2 and showing in dotted lines a portion of a drapery panel affixed to one of the master carriers.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 1 showing the baton during the process of installation on the master carrier.

FIG. 8B is a fragment of FIG. 8a disclosing the baton fully installed on the master carrier.

FIG. 9 is a central cross sectional view of molding apparatus utilized to form the baton used in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a partially broken top view of the apparatus of FIG. 9.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words up," down, right and left" will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words front" and rear" will refer to the sides of the apparatus normally facing into the room and facing outwardly of the room, and more particularly to the right and left sides of the apparatus as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. The words in and out will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the apparatus and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the present invention are met by providing a master carrier configured for slidable securement to a traverse rod and including a drapery supporting portion and an exposed flange provided with first and second holes connected by a narrow slot, the second hole facing forwardly and being smaller than the first hole. An elongate flexible baton carries a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and an enlarged retainer adjacent the other end thereof. The retainer portion is sized to pass freely through the first hole, the portion of the baton intermediate the retainer portion and hand engageable portion is sized to pass through the slot into the second hole and the hand engageable portion is manually pulled to abut the retainer portion with the back of the flange of the master carrier at the second hole, the retainer portion being sized to pass through the second hole only in response to a substantial pull axially of the second hole. Thus, the master carrier and a drapery panel supported thereby are movable along the traverse rod by manual pulling of the hand engageable portion of the baton generally in a direction parallel to the traverse rod, while a substantial pull on the baton away from the traverse rod removes the baton from the master carrier to avoid damage thereto. The baton is preferably formed by placing an elongated flexible element so that it extends through, between and beyond first and second spaced mold cavities, the first cavity being arranged for molding the retainer portion on the baton element and the second cavity being arranged for molding the hand engageable portion on the baton element. The mold cavities are closed and tilled with a hardenable plastic material. Upon hardening of such material the mold cavities are opened. The baton element is then severed between the close spaced resulting molded retainer portion and hand engageable portion and the process is repeated either in time or through the use of multiple mold cavities to form a series of batons each having a hand engageable portion adjacent one end and a retainer portion adjacent the other end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 discloses a traverse rod assembly embodying the invention. In the particular embodiment shown, the assembly 10 includes an elongated traverse rod 11 of conventional construction, here comprising a hollow extruded aluminum member having a downwardly opening slot 12 (FIG. 6) defined by spaced coplanar flanges 13 extending inwardly toward each other from the sidewalls 14 and 15 of the traverse rod 11 for providing longitudinal admittance to the interior of the hollow traverse rod 11. The traverse rod 11 is preferably equipped with a plurality of drapery hangers 16 (FIGS. 1 and 7) of any convenient type engageable in a conventional manner in said slot for sliding motion therealong. The drapery hangers are attachable to drapery panels, which may be of cloth, paper or any other suitable material, one such panel being indicated in broken lines at 17 in FIG. 7. The drapery panel 17 may be secured to the hangers 16 by a convenient means such as hooks or the like, conventional snap fasteners being shown in the disclosed embodiment. If desired, fixed securement members 18 may be provided adjacent the ends of the traverse rod 11 for fixedly locating the outer ends of drapery panels carried by said hanger 16. The traverse rod 11 may be fixed to a building structure for use in a convenient manner such as for example by use of screws 19 (FIG. 7).

Although the invention is here disclosed in terms of use with a bottom slotted, hollow traverse rod 11, it will be understood that the present invention is applicable also to the traverse rod constructions of other types including, for example, back slotted hollow traverse rods and non-hollow traverse rods of the type or in which drapery hangers are telescopingly and slideably received over the rod. However, for purposes of illustration, the following description will be in terms of the particular type of rod ll shown in FIG. 1.

In accordance with the present invention the traverse rod assembly 10 is provided with at least one master carrier-baton unit. In the preferred embodiment shown, two such units, a front master carrier-baton unit 21 and a rear master carrier-baton unit 22 (FIGS. 1 and 7), are provided for carrying the inboard ends of two drapery panels, such as the drapery panel 17, for opening movement with respect to the traverse rod 11 and for closing movement of the drapery panels in overlapped fashion, normally adjacent the center of the rod 11.

The front and rear master carrier-baton units 21 and 22 are preferably substantially mirror images of each other except for differences relating to the overlapping of drapery panels as discussed hereinafter. Thus, description of one of such units, succeeded by a discussion of such differences, will suffice for both such units.

Considering then the front unit 21 (FIGS. 2 through 4 and 7) same comprises a master carrier 24 and a baton 25 releasably secured thereto. The master carrier 24 includes a preferably plate-like and preferably horizontally oriented body 27 from which extend means for supporting the drapery panel, for slidable securement to the traverse rod and for attachment to the baton, as hereinafter described.

Where the master carrier 24 is to slidably cooperate with a traverse rod of the type shown having a downwardly opening slot, the body 27 supports an upstanding substantially T-shaped slide member 28 comprising an upstanding leg 29 receivable through the slot 12 of the traverse rod into the interior thereof and a crosshead 30 preferably centered on the leg and adapted to ride upon the opposed flanges 13 of the rod 11. The T- shaped slide member 28 preferably extends the length of the body 27 which is of length sufficient to prevent any significant tilting of the master carrier 24 in the plane of the draperies with respect to the traverse rod 11. The longitudinal ends of the body 27, crosshead 30 and leg 29 are preferably radiused as indicated at 32 (FIG. 2) to insure smooth sliding motion of the master carrier 24 along the traverse rod.

Turning now to the portions of the master carrier concerned with support of the drapery panels, same as above-mentioned differ between the units 21 and 22 so as to provide for overlapping of the drapery intermediate the ends of the rod 11 when the draperies are closed. Thus, turning first to the master carrier 24 of the rearward unit 22, the body 27 of such master carrier extends rearwardly of the traverse rod 11. In the particular embodiment shown, a substantially planar drapery support member 34 depends vertically from the body 27 along the rearward edge thereof. Forwardly facing, substantially triangular buttresses 36 preferably are provided between the support member 34 and body 27 to enhance the rigidity of the connection thereof. The support member 34 extends beyond the body 27 in a direction longitudinally of the traverse rod and toward the other master carrier-baton unit 21. Cylindrical flanges 37 are provided adjacent the lower corners and are provided with counter-sunk holes 38 which extend from the forward faces of the flanges 37 through the support member 34. The flanges 37 so described are arranged for fixedly receiving suitable drapery fastening means, such as conventional snap fasteners as generally indicated in broken lines at 40 with respect to the master carrier baton unit 21, in FIG. 7. However, it is contemplated that fastening means of other types, such as hooks or the like may be employed in connection with the above-described holes 38 for fastening the drapes to the master carrier. A strengthening ridge 42 preferably extends forwardly from the planar support member 34 along the lower edge thereof.

The master carrier of the front unit 21, designated for convenience in reference by the character 24A, differs from the master carrier 24 of the rear unit 22 abovedescribed in that in the particular embodiment shown, the body 27A thereof terminates adjacent and preferably forwardly of the rearward face 14 of the traverse rod 11 and the depending substantially planar drapery support member 34A thereof is located beneath rather than rearwardly of the traverse rod 11 and is substantially centered beneath the T-shaped slide member 28. Also, the master carrier 24A omits the triangular buttresses 36 of the master carrier 24. The depending drapery support member 34A otherwise substantially a mirror image of the support member 34 above described in detail.

Thus, as indicated by FIG. 7, the master carrier 24 is adapted to support a drapery panel with its plane near the rearward wall 14 of the traverse rod 11 and the forward master carrier 24A is adapted to support a corresponding drapery panel 17 with its plane substantially adjacent the forward side of the traverse rod 11, the support members 34 and 34A and the edges of drapery panels supported thereby thus being adapted to overlap as the master carriers 24 and 24A are brought together to close the drapes.

Turning now to the means for supporting the batons 25 on master carriers, such are preferably identical in both master carriers and need only be described therefore with respect to one such master carrier. Thus, the master carrier 24 (FIGS. 2 through 4 and 7) includes forwardly extending flange 45. The flange 45 is preferably L-shaped, as seen in FIG. 3, comprising a substantially horizontal and planar upper element 46 which extends forwardly in the plane of the body 27 and a lower element 47 which depends from the forward end of the upper element 46. The flange 45 is preferably centered with respect to the body 27 and opening 41. The sides of the upper element 46 preferably taper forwardly as indicated at 48 whereas the depending lower element preferably is rounded on the bottom thereof to provide a substantially U-shaped outline. Substantially triangular buttresses 49 connect the side edges of the lower element 47 with the underface of the upper element 46 to assure rigidity.

The flange 45 (FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8A) is provided with a passage generally indicated at 51 for installation and securement of the baton 25 thereto, as hereinafter described. The passage 51 comprises a narrowed slot 53 connecting a larger hole 54 with a smaller hole 55.

More particularly, the larger hole 54 here comprises a rounded end notch which extends forwardly through the front end of the upper element 46 of the flange 45 between the buttresses 49. Similarly, the smaller hole 55 is here defined by a rounded end notch which opens upwardly through the top of the lower element 47 of the flange 45 in communication with the notch in the upper element 46 of the flange. Tabs 56 extend, in spaced relation, toward each other from the sides of the notch in the lower element 47 for defining therebetween the aforementioned slot 53.

The master carriers 24 and 24A are preferably monolythic and are preferably formed by molding from a suitable hardenable plastics material, preferably one having low sliding friction, such as nylon.

The baton 25 (FIG. 8A) comprises an elongated, preferably flexible, strand element 59 ofany convenient type such as a nylon cord. The element 59 is sized and of a sufficiently resilient nature as to pass, preferably with some resistance, through the slot 53.

The baton 25 further includes a hand engageable member or handle 61 fixedly connected adjacent one end of the strand element 59. The handle 61 may be of any desired form but in the preferred embodiment shown comprises a substantially planar member of substantially diamond shape having a correspondingly shaped, center opening 62 through which a portion of the strand element 59 passes.

The baton 25 further includes a retainer element 64 fixed adjacent the other end of the strand element 59. The retainer element 54 is preferably substantially spherical in shape, the strand element 59 passing diametrally therethrough. The retainer element 64 is sized to pass freely through the larger hole 54 but its diame ter exceeds the minimum width of the smaller hole 55 so as to prevent free passage of the retainer element 64 through such smaller hole. However, the diameter of the retainer element 64 exceeds the minimum width of the smaller hole 55 by only a limited extent, for example in the range of 0.002 to 0.030 inch. Thus, a pull on the element 59 (FIG. 8B) substantially in the plane of the draperies will not pull the retainer element 64 through the smaller opening 55, and a gentle pull on the element 59 substantially at right angles to the plane of the draperies, that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lower flange element 47, will not pull the retainer element through the smaller opening. However, a stronger pull in a direction having a large component perpendicular to the plane of the drapery, yet of an amount less than that required to damage the traverse rod, master carrier or baton, will pull the retainer element 64 forwardly through the smaller hole 55. It is preferred that a pull of the last mentioned nature in the range of approximately 20 to 30 pounds will be sufficient to pull the retainer element 64 through the smaller opening 55.

It is preferred that the handle 61 and retainer element 64 be ofa hardenable plastics material molded on the strand element 59. Such material is preferably a low friction material at least as to the retainer element 64 and may be the same material utilized for the master carriers 24 and 24A.

The retainer element 64 and handle 61 are preferably molded on the strand element 59 as indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10. More particularly, a mold 68 comprises a lower mold part 69 and an upper or covering mold part 70. A retainer element cavity 72 and handle cavity 73 are provided in the opposed faces of the upper and lower mold parts 70 and 69 and register when the upper and lower mold parts are placed in opposed facing relationship (the closed condition of the mold) as shown in FIG. 9. The opposed faces of the upper and lower mold parts are additionally each provided with a groove 74 which extends through, between and beyond the cavities 72 and 73 and permits snug reception of the strand element 59 between the upper and lower mold parts in communication with cavities 72 and 73 therein. The upper mold cavity is provided with sprue openings 76 which communicate with the mold cavities 72 and 73 for flowing a hardenable plastics material into such mold cavities to surround and thereafter harden around the strand element 59 to form a retainer element 64 and handle 61 close to each other on the strand element 59.

If desired, batons may be formed sequentially using a single mold 68 of the type shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Alternatively, a plurality of such molds 68, 68A, etc. may be charged simultaneously with a common elongated strand element 59 running therethrough, a substantial length of the strand element lying between such separate molds 68, 68A, etc., so as to simultaneously form on the strand element 59 a plurality of handles 61 and retainer elements 64. As a further alternative, a plurality of such mold cavities 72 and 73 may be alternatively arranged in a single enlarged upper mold part and lower mold part, provision being made for enabling a lengthened impression of the strand element 59 between alternate patterns of such mold cavities 72 and 73.

After the molding operation is completed, the strand element 59 may be severed along a cutting line indicated in broken lines at B in FIG. 10 between the closest spaced ones of the handles 61 and retainer elements 64 to separate the handle end of one baton from the retainer element end of the adjacent baton.

OPERATION The traverse rod llmay be installed in a building at a window opening or the like in a conventional manner. The hangers 16 and master carriers 21 and 22 may be installed on the rod 11 in a conventional manner, for example, by inserting same into the groove 12 at one end of the rod and moving same along the length of the rod to the desired positions. Thereafter, drapery panels may be installed on the hangers and master carriers and connected to the end members, again in conventional manner, for example by means of snap fasteners. The master carriers 24 and 24A are, as above indicated, provided with counter sunk holes 38 to which one half of a snap fastening unit may be secured by any convenient means such as riveting.

A baton 25 is installed on each of the master carriers 24 and 24A by inserting the retaining element 64 downwardly through the large opening 54 so that a length of the strand element 59 extends through such large opening 54, as seen in FIG. 8A. Thereafter, the portion of the strand element 59 extending through the large hole 54 is moved downwardly through the slot 53 defined by the tabs 56 and into the small opening 55.

The strand element 59 may then be pulled forwardly by the baton in condition shown in FIG. 8B, namely with the retaining element 64 lying immediately in back of the small opening 55 and the adjacent intermediate portion of the strand element 59 extending forwardly through the small opening 55, the remaining portion of the strand element 59 and the handle 61 depending therefrom ready for use.

Thus, the flange 45 of each of the master carriers 24 and 24A lies, as seen in FIG. 7, in front of the drapery panel fixed thereto and is thus in clear view of the operator. Thus, the operator has an unimpeded view of the point at which the baton joins the flange 45 of each master carrier. This gives the uninitiated operator an opportunity to perceive and understand both the manner of attachment of the baton to the master carrier and also the mode of operation of the traversing systern.

To correctly operate the draperies for opening or closing, the operator grips the baton 25, preferably by means of the handle 61, and moves same in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the drapery panels and generally in the direction of the length axis of the rod 11 to either open or close the drapery panel as desired.

In the event that the operator pulls the baton forwardly, away from the drapery panel, either in a misguided attempt to open or close the drapery panel or for any other purpose, and applies a sufficient pulling force, the retaining element 64 will resist such pulling force so long as same remains at a low magnitude. However, if such force is increased, yet before there is danger of breaking any of the parts, the retainer element 64 will be pulled forwardly from the master carrier to which it is attached and through the small opening 55, there being sufficient resiliency in the retaining element 64 and/or in the lower flange portion surrounding the smaller hole 55 to allow such passage of the retainer element through the smaller hole 55. Thus, breakage of the master carrier, dislodgement thereof transversely from the rod or breakage of the baton either in terms of breaking of the element 59 or dislodgement of the handle or retaining element therefrom is effectively prevented. The force required so to dislodge the retaining element 64 from the master carrier preferably falls in the range of 20 to 30 pounds of force.

In the event that the baton does become so dislodged from the master carrier, same can be replaced in the manner of the initial installation thereof above described.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as fol lows:

1. In a traverse rod assembly for hand drawn drapes, the combination comprising:

a master carrier for slideably supporting a drapery panel on a traverse rod;

elongate baton means connectible to said master carrier and responsive to a pull substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel;

means comprising a resilient interference connection between said master carrier and baton responsive to a pull on the baton which is both of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial component transverse to said length for disconnecting the baton from the master carrier.

2. In a traverse rod assembly for hand drawn drapes,

the combination comprising:

a master carrier for slideably supporting a drapery panel on a traverse rod;

an elongate baton;

releasably interengageable means on said master carrier and baton responsive to a pull on said baton substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel, and responsive to a pull on the baton of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial component transverse to said length for disconnecting the baton from the master carrier, said interengageable means including means on said master carrier defining a forwardly opening passage and an enlarged retainer portion adjacent one end of said baton, said baton having a manually engageable portion adjacent the other end thereof, the intermediate portion of said baton being slideably disposable in said passage with said retainer portion disposed to the rear of said passage, said retainer portion being sized larger than said passage, so as to not to be passable therethrough in response to a pull on said baton substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel, said passage and retainer portion being so related in size as to allow said retainer portion to be pulled forwardly through said passage to disconnect the baton and master carrier in response to a pull on the baton of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial forward component.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said passage comprises a first hole, a second hole of lesser width than said first hole and spaced from said first hole by an intervening slot of still further reduced width, said first hole being sized greater than said retainer portion for allowing free admittance of said retainer portion therethrough, said slot being sized to allow said intermediate portion of said baton to be moved therethrough from said first hole to said second hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means on said master carrier comprises a forwardly extending flange which is substantially L-shaped and comprises a substantially horizontal first portion and a substantially vertical second portion adjacent the forward end of said first portion, said passage being defined by a first notch in said first portion and a second notch in said second portion, said first and second notches communicating at the join of said first and second portions, said second notch being of width less than said first notch, said first notch being sized to allow free passage of said retainer portion therethrough and said second notch being sized to resist passage of said retainer por-' tion therethrough, means on said flange and extending into one of said notches to interpose a narrowed slot between the remote ends of said notches, said slot being sized to admit said intermediate portion of said baton from one of said notches to the other thereof.

eries to be supported on said drapery support member,

said flange means having said forwardly opening passage therethrough for connecting said master carrier to said baton at a location forward of the plane of drapery panels supported by such master carrier to enable free visibility of such connection to the traverse assembly operatorl 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said drapery support member is substantially planar and extends in one dimension substantially parallel to the length of the traverse rod and in another dimension is substantially vertical, said support member substantially paralleling a portion of said flange means and being spaced rearwardly thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said drapery support member has an opening therethrough substantially centered on said flange means, said drapery support member extending along said traverse rod in opposite directions beyond said flange means, said drapery support member including means for mounting a drapery panel thereon.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 including a second master carrier for slideably supporting a second drapery panel on the traverse rod, said second master carrier having a drapery support member and flange means located in front thereof, said flange means of said first mentioned and second master carriers being substantially coplanar, the drapery support member of one of said master carriers being spaced rearwardly of the drapery support member of the other master carrier for allowing overlapping of adjacent edges of said drapery panels when said master carriers are close together on said traverse rod.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said master carrier includes a body portion interconnecting said drapery support member and flange means, said body portion including means for slideably interengaging said traverse rod.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said means for interengaging said traverse rod comprises an upstanding T-shaped cross section element adapted for being partially received within the interior of a hollow traverse rod having downwardly opening slot for slideably supporting said master carrier on such traverse rod.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said baton comprises an elongated flexible strand, said enlarged retainer portion comprising a substantially rigid body fixed to said strand adjacent to one end thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said manually engageable portion comprises a handle element secured to such strand adjacent the other end thereof, said retainer portion body and said handle element being molded to said strand for fixedly engaging same.

13.. A traverse rod assembly, comprising in combination: 7

an elongated traverse rod having a longitudinally extending undercut groove;

a plurality of drapery hangers slideable along said groove in retained relation with said traverse rod;

a master carrier having an H-cross section slider slideably retained within said groove of said traverse rod, a drapery support member connected to said H-shaped slider and extending away from said traverse rod for supporting one end of a drapery panel for sliding movement along said traverse rod, said master carrier further having a flange extending forwardly therefrom and provided with first and second holes connected by a narrow slot, said first hole being larger than said second hole;

an elongate baton having a handle adjacent one end thereof and an enlarged retainer element adjacent the other end thereof, said retainer element and handle being connected by an elongate strand sized to pass through said slot, said retainer element being smaller than said first hole but sufficiently larger than said second hole as to forcibly resist movement therethrough;

whereby said retainer element can be passed with part of said strand through said first hole, said part of said strand can be passed through said slot into said second hole and said handle can be manually pulled to abut said retainer element with said flange, thus connecting said baton to said master carrier to enable the master carrier and the drapery engaged thereby to be moved along the traverse rod by manual pulling of said hand engageable element of said baton generally in a direction along said traverse rod.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the flange is substantially L-shaped having a substantially horizontal portion extending forwardly from said master carrier and a substantially vertical portion extending from the forward end of said substantially horizontal portion, said first hole being through said horizontal portion and said second hole being through said vertical portion of said flange, said slot lying adjacent the juncture of said flange portions, said retainer element being substantially spherical and sized with respect to said second hole to prevent passage thereof through said second hole due to a pull on said strand substantially parallel to the length dimension of said traverse rod but allowing passage of said retainer element through said second hole due to a pull onto the strand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said drapery panel and in the range of 20 to 30 pounds of force so as to prevent damage to the apparatus resulting from the improper pulling of the baton.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said last mentioned means comprises portions of said baton and said master carrier, one said portion defining an opening and the other said portion defining an enlarged element of width normally exceeding that of said opening, said enlarged element being movable relative to and out of said opening upon application of said force to said baton. 

1. In a traverse rod assembly for hand drawn drapes, the combination comprising: a master carrier for slideably supporting a drapery panel on a traverse rod; elongate baton means connectible to said master carrier and responsive to a pull substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel; means comprising a resilient interference connection between said master carrier and baton responsive to a pull on the baton which is both of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial component transverse to said length for disconnecting the baton from the master carrier.
 2. In a traverse rod assembly for hand drawn drapes, the combination comprising: a master carrier for slideably supporting a drapery panel on a traverse rod; an elongate baton; releasably interengageable means on said master carrier and baton responsive to a pull on said baton substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel, and responsive to a pull on the baton of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial component transverse to said length for disconnecting the baton from the master carrier, said interengageable means including means on said master carrier defining a forwardly opening passage and an enlarged retainer portion adjacent one end of said baton, said baton having a manually engageable portion adjacent the other end thereof, the intermediate portion of said baton being slideably disposable in said passage with said retainer portion disposed to the rear of said passage, said retainer portion being sized larger than said passage, so as to not to be passable therethrough in response to a pull on said baton substantially along the length of said traverse rod for opening or closing the drapery panel, said passage and retainer portion being so related in size as to allow said retainer portion to be pulled forwardly through said passage to disconnect the baton and master carrier in response to a pull on the baton of force exceeding a minimum value and of direction having a substantial forward component.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said passage comprises a first hole, a second hole of lesser width than said first hole and spaced from said first hole by an intervening slot of still further reduced width, said first hole being sized greater than said retainer portion for allowing free admittance of said retainer portion therethrough, said slot being sized to allow said intermediate portion of said baton to be moved therethrough from said first hole to said second hole.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means on said master carrier comprises a forwardly extending flange which is subStantially L-shaped and comprises a substantially horizontal first portion and a substantially vertical second portion adjacent the forward end of said first portion, said passage being defined by a first notch in said first portion and a second notch in said second portion, said first and second notches communicating at the join of said first and second portions, said second notch being of width less than said first notch, said first notch being sized to allow free passage of said retainer portion therethrough and said second notch being sized to resist passage of said retainer portion therethrough, means on said flange and extending into one of said notches to interpose a narrowed slot between the remote ends of said notches, said slot being sized to admit said intermediate portion of said baton from one of said notches to the other thereof.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said master carrier includes a drapery support member adapted to support a drapery panel thereon, said means on said master carrier defining a forwardly opening passage comprising flange means extending forwardly beyond said drapery support member and beyond the plane of draperies to be supported on said drapery support member, said flange means having said forwardly opening passage therethrough for connecting said master carrier to said baton at a location forward of the plane of drapery panels supported by such master carrier to enable free visibility of such connection to the traverse assembly operator.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said drapery support member is substantially planar and extends in one dimension substantially parallel to the length of the traverse rod and in another dimension is substantially vertical, said support member substantially paralleling a portion of said flange means and being spaced rearwardly thereof.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said drapery support member has an opening therethrough substantially centered on said flange means, said drapery support member extending along said traverse rod in opposite directions beyond said flange means, said drapery support member including means for mounting a drapery panel thereon.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 including a second master carrier for slideably supporting a second drapery panel on the traverse rod, said second master carrier having a drapery support member and flange means located in front thereof, said flange means of said first mentioned and second master carriers being substantially coplanar, the drapery support member of one of said master carriers being spaced rearwardly of the drapery support member of the other master carrier for allowing overlapping of adjacent edges of said drapery panels when said master carriers are close together on said traverse rod.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said master carrier includes a body portion interconnecting said drapery support member and flange means, said body portion including means for slideably interengaging said traverse rod.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said means for interengaging said traverse rod comprises an upstanding T-shaped cross section element adapted for being partially received within the interior of a hollow traverse rod having downwardly opening slot for slideably supporting said master carrier on such traverse rod.
 11. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said baton comprises an elongated flexible strand, said enlarged retainer portion comprising a substantially rigid body fixed to said strand adjacent to one end thereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said manually engageable portion comprises a handle element secured to such strand adjacent the other end thereof, said retainer portion body and said handle element being molded to said strand for fixedly engaging same.
 13. A traverse rod assembly, comprising in combination: an elongated traverse rod having a longitudinally extending undercut groove; a plurality of drapery hangers slideable along said groove in retained relation with said traverse rod; a master carrier having an H-cross section slider slideably retained within said groove of said traverse rod, a drapery support member connected to said H-shaped slider and extending away from said traverse rod for supporting one end of a drapery panel for sliding movement along said traverse rod, said master carrier further having a flange extending forwardly therefrom and provided with first and second holes connected by a narrow slot, said first hole being larger than said second hole; an elongate baton having a handle adjacent one end thereof and an enlarged retainer element adjacent the other end thereof, said retainer element and handle being connected by an elongate strand sized to pass through said slot, said retainer element being smaller than said first hole but sufficiently larger than said second hole as to forcibly resist movement therethrough; whereby said retainer element can be passed with part of said strand through said first hole, said part of said strand can be passed through said slot into said second hole and said handle can be manually pulled to abut said retainer element with said flange, thus connecting said baton to said master carrier to enable the master carrier and the drapery engaged thereby to be moved along the traverse rod by manual pulling of said hand engageable element of said baton generally in a direction along said traverse rod.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the flange is substantially L-shaped having a substantially horizontal portion extending forwardly from said master carrier and a substantially vertical portion extending from the forward end of said substantially horizontal portion, said first hole being through said horizontal portion and said second hole being through said vertical portion of said flange, said slot lying adjacent the juncture of said flange portions, said retainer element being substantially spherical and sized with respect to said second hole to prevent passage thereof through said second hole due to a pull on said strand substantially parallel to the length dimension of said traverse rod but allowing passage of said retainer element through said second hole due to a pull onto the strand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said drapery panel and in the range of 20 to 30 pounds of force so as to prevent damage to the apparatus resulting from the improper pulling of the baton.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said last mentioned means comprises portions of said baton and said master carrier, one said portion defining an opening and the other said portion defining an enlarged element of width normally exceeding that of said opening, said enlarged element being movable relative to and out of said opening upon application of said force to said baton. 